The second of five large stainless-steel sculptures by Oakland artist Bruce Beasley was lowered into place Wednesday (July 10) in the Mining Circle on the UC Berkeley campus. By day’s end, the pool was refilled to conceal the graceful artwork’s supports, making it appear to dance on the surface of the water.

UC Berkeley campus historian and capital projects planner Steven Finacom captured the action, and his photos appear to the right.

The artist himself (pictured in the first photo, foreground), a Berkeley graduate who has gone on to world renown, trucked the sculpture to campus from his West Oakland studio, and helped with its installation in the pool in front of the Hearst Memorial Mining Building. Skies were foggy as the 1,200-1500-pound sculpture was lowered into place, with the Campanile looming behind. Sunny skies provided a Hollywood backdrop by the time the water reached the top of the supports, and the sculpture took flight.

The piece is one of five from Beasley’s new “Rondo” series that are being installed around campus during the summer, and by fall will constitute a free, outdoor exhibit that is planned to last a year. The exhibit is part of Berkeley’s ongoing interest in outdoor art, and was arranged with the help of campus landscape architect Jim Horner.